Hispanic Review

abstract:

This article argues for a shift toward aurality and away from the emphasis on orality that has long been a keynote in criticism about the work of Juan Rulfo. To attend to the ears that listen rather than solely the voice that speaks, I not only consider the Jaliscan writer's entire oeuvre but also turn to a seldom-studied yet readily available archive: Rulfo's recordings of a few stories from El llano en llamas and two fragments from Pedro Páramo. Addressing these audio versions amplifies the importance of the aural throughout Rulfo's writings and expands on the readings of other critics who examine some of the sounds that echo across his works but who rarely acknowledge the constitutive role of the listener. And just as Rulfo's own experiences with tape reveal these listening techniques, his representations of other sound reproduction technologies portray the effects of changing aural perceptions and practices.